Takashi Hirose wrote this book in a heat of passion mixed with terrible sadness in the weeks following the Fukushima nuclear disaster. But he is far from a newcomer to this field; he has been writing books and articles warning of the terrible dangers of nuclear power since the early 1980s. In this book, which was a best seller in Japan, he not only describes the comic-if-not-so-tragic series of fumbling errors that lead to the meltdown at Fukushima, but also makes clear the absurdity of putting nuclear power plants anywhere on the earthquake and volcano prone Japanese archipelago - and by extension, anywhere in the world. This is the first translation into English of any book by this authoritative critic of nuclear power.

The news out of Abu Dhabi on Dec. 27, 2009 was the direct motivation to write this book. South Korean consortium has just won the largest single nuclear power plant construction project in recent years to deliver four state-of-the-art Generation III pressurized water reactors to the United Arab Emirates. This book will bring to life the agonizing process of pursuing peaceful nuclear energy in South Korea during the last half-century for the "Atoms for Peace" dream from a poor developing country. Particular focus is placed on the localization process of nuclear power technology since 1980 from an insider's view. This case study on the Korean nuclear power technology could shed some light for other nations as they enter the brave new world of nuclear renaissance. Once on the Silk Road countries like China, India, UAE and Turkey show the most active nuclear power programs together with Japan and Korea today. After all, history repeats itself as new technologies transfer through the Nuclear Silk Road, crossing civilizations.

It is an undisputed reality that the energy production and, particularly, the production of electricity and their sustained growth, constitute indispensable elements for the economic and social progress of any country. Without any doubt, energy constitute the motive force of the civilisation and it determines, in a high degree, the level of economic and social development of a country. To ensure an adequate economic and social growth of a country, there is a need to use all available types of energy sources for electricity production, including nuclear energy. This book discusses the role of nuclear power in the world electricity generation.

In this book, the authors gather topical research in the study of nuclear materials. Topics discussed include experimental studies in nuclear fuel alloys for research reactors; the removal of arsenic from ground and surface waters using lanthanides; microstructural characterisation of zirconium based alloys and current trends in the mathematical modelling and simulation of fission product transport from fuel to primary coolant of PWRs.

The Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) is a fast reactor system developed at Argonne National Laboratory in the decade 1984 to 1994. The IFR project developed the technology for a complete system; the reactor, the entire fuel cycle and the waste management technologies were all included in the development program. The reactor concept had important features and characteristics that were completely new and fuel cycle and waste management technologies that were entirely new developments. The reactor is a "fast" reactor - that is, the chain reaction is maintained by "fast" neutrons with high energy - which produces its own fuel. The IFR reactor and associated fuel cycle is a closed system. Electrical power is generated, new fissile fuel is produced to replace the fuel burned, its used fuel is processed for recycling by pyroprocessing - a new development - and waste is put in final form for disposal. All this is done on one self-sufficient site. The scale and duration of the project and its funding made it the largest nuclear energy R and D program of its day. Its purpose was the development of a long term massive new energy source, capable of meeting the nation's electrical energy needs in any amount, and for as long as it is needed, forever, if necessary. Safety, non-proliferation and waste toxicity properties were improved as well, these three the characteristics most commonly cited in opposition to nuclear power. Development proceeded from success to success. Most of the development had been done when the program was abruptly cancelled by the newly elected Clinton Administration. In his 1994 State of the Union address the president stated that "unnecessary programs in advanced reactor development will be terminated." The IFR was that program. This book gives the real story of the IFR, written by the two nuclear scientists who were most deeply involved in its conception, the development of its R and D program, and its management. Between the scientific and engineering papers and reports, and books on the IFR, and the non-technical and often impassioned dialogue that continues to this day on fast reactor technology, we felt there is room for a volume that, while accurate technically, is written in a manner accessible to the non-specialist and even to the non-technical reader who simply wants to know what this technology is.

For operating in severe environments, long life and reliability, radioisotope power systems have proven to be the most successful of all space power sources. Two Voyager missions launched in 1977 to study Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and their satellites, rings and magnetic fields and continuing to the heliosphere region are still functioning over thirty years later. Radioisotope power systems have been used on the Moon, exploring the planets, and exiting our solar system. There success is a tribute to the outstanding engineering, quality control and attention to details that went into the design and production of radioisotope power generation units. Space nuclear radioisotope systems take the form of using the thermal energy from the decay of radioisotopes and converting this energy to electric power. Reliability and safety are of prime importance. Mission success depends on the ability of being able to safely launch the systems and on having sufficient electrical power over the life of the mission. Graceful power degradation over the life of a mission is acceptable as long as it is within predictable limits. Electrical power conversion systems with inherent redundancy, such as thermoelectric conversion systems, have been favored to date. Also, radioactive decay heat has been used to maintain temperatures in spacecraft at acceptable conditions for other components. This book describes how radioisotope systems work, the requirements and safety design considerations, the various systems that have been developed, and their operational history.

To achieve energy security and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction objectives, the United States must develop clean, affordable, domestic energy sources as quickly as possible. Nuclear power will continue to be a key component of a portfolio of technologies that meets our energy goals. This book provides a roadmap for the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) research, development and demonstration activities that will ensure nuclear energy remains a viable energy option for the United States.

A electric glow discharge is a type of plasma formed by passing a current at 100 V to several kV through a gas at low pressure, usually argon or another noble gas. It is found in products such as fluorescent lights and plasma-screen televisions, and is used in plasma physics and analytical chemistry. A tokamak is a machine producing a toroidal magnetic field for confining a plasma which is characterised by azimuthal (rotational) symmetry and the use of a plasma-borne electric current to generate the helical component of the magnetic field necessary for stable equilibrium. It is one of several types of magnetic confinement devices, and is one of the most-researched candidates for producing controlled thermonuclear fusion power. This book discusses and presents current data on both glow discharges and tokamaks.

The advantages of space nuclear fission power systems can be summarized as: compact size; low to moderate mass; long operating lifetimes; the ability to operate in extremely hostile environments; operation independent of the distance from the Sun or of the orientation to the Sun; and high system reliability and autonomy. In fact, as power requirements approach the tens of kilowatts and megawatts, fission nuclear energy appears to be the only realistic power option. The building blocks for space nuclear fission electric power systems include the reactor as the heat source, power generation equipment to convert the thermal energy to electrical power, waste heat rejection radiators and shielding to protect the spacecraft payload. The power generation equipment can take the form of either static electrical conversion elements that have no moving parts (e.g., thermoelectric or thermionic) or dynamic conversion components (e.g., the Rankine, Brayton or Stirling cycle). The U.S. has only demonstrated in space, or even in full systems in a simulated ground environment, uranium-zirconium-hydride reactor power plants. These power plants were designed for a limited lifetime of one year and the mass of scaled up power plants would probably be unacceptable to meet future mission needs. Extensive development was performed on the liquid-metal cooled SP-100 power systems and components were well on their way to being tested in a relevant environment. A generic flight system design was completed for a seven year operating lifetime power plant, but not built or tested. The former USSR made extensive use of space reactors as a power source for radar ocean reconnaissance satellites. They launched some 31 missions using reactors with thermoelectric power conversion systems and two with thermionic converters. Current activities are centered on Fission Surface Power for lunar applications. Activities are concentrating on demonstrating component readiness. This book will discuss the components that make up a nuclear fission power system, the principal requirements and safety issues, various development programs, status of developments, and development issues.

The importance of the radioactive minerals occurring at the Pocos de Caldas plateau for the establishment of the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Program has been recognised world-wide. The interest in uranium in the present days as a consequence of its use as a nuclear fuel coupled to its price in the international market has lead to intense debate, mainly due to questions related to global warming. Thus, all initiatives/studies directed to a better knowledge/management of this element in the environment are welcome and needed. This book describes many results obtained on the analysis of natural radionuclides in different compartments, considering their distribution in (un)disturbed environments, as well as consequences of the anthropogenic actions and possible lessons that can be learned from the past uranium exploration activities held at the Pocos de Caldas caldera.

While it does not forego the seriousness associated with the topic, this book provides for an easy read that informs the reader of a variety of issues associated with the subject. Divided into short chapters, aspects such as technology, resource availability, economics, geopolitics and policies associated with nuclear power are dealt with in detail, but in a way that emphasizes readability. Contentious areas such as safety, waste management and the latest trends associated with them are laid bare for the reader. The book also dwells in depth on the shrill and seldom above-board debate on nuclear power and renewables. This is an invaluable companion for all those looking to understand the nature of the nuclear industry in the new millennium and the implications of international treaties such as the Indo-US nuclear deal.

This book explores the topic of nuclear power in the United States. Nearly three decades after the most recent order was placed for a new nuclear power plant in the U.S., several utilities are now expressing interest in building a total of up to 30 new reactors. The renewed interest in nuclear power has resulted primarily from higher prices for natural gas, improved operation of existing reactors, and uncertainty about future restrictions on coal emissions. This book compares the cost of two-fuel cycle alternatives for the current generation of thermal reactors -- one alternative being direct disposal, and the other reprocessing. This book also includes analyses of the potential effect of the tax credit for nuclear power provided by the Energy Policy of 2005 and possible competitive effects of various proposals to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Under baseline assumptions, the cost of electricity from new nuclear power plants is likely to be higher than power generated by new coal- and natural gas-fired plants. This book consists of public documents which have been located, gathered, combined, reformatted, and enhanced with a subject index, selectively edited and bound to provide easy access.

In Fueling Our Future, Quakers expert in both the technical and ethical issues, provide key information, critical analysis and thoughtful dialogue on choices for our energy future. Fueling Our Future will assist concerned citizens in their evaluation of public policy and personal choices.

Many contemporary uses of uranium exploit its unique nuclear properties. Uranium-235 has the distinction of being the only naturally occurring fissile isotope. Uranium-238 is both fissionable by fast neutrons, and fertile (capable of being transmuted to fissile plutonium-239 in a nuclear reactor). An artificial fissile isotope, uranium-233, can be produced from natural thorium and is also important in nuclear technology. While uranium-238 has a small probability to fission spontaneously or when bombarded with fast neutrons, the much higher probability of uranium-235 and to a lesser degree uranium-233 to fission when bombarded with slow neutrons generates the heat in nuclear reactors used as a source of power, and provides the fissile material for nuclear weapons. Both uses rely on the ability of uranium to produce a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Depleted uranium (uranium-238) is used in kinetic energy penetrators and armour plating. This important book presents new research in the field.

This textbook is the first comprehensive and systematic account of the science, technology and policy issues associated with nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. Throughout their account of the evolution of nuclear policy, from its origin to the early Trump presidency, the authors interweave clear technical expositions of the science and technology that underpin and constrain it. The book begins by tracing the early work in atomic physics, the discovery of fission, and the developments that led to the Manhattan Project and the delivery of atomic bombs against Japan that ended World War II. It follows the initial failed attempts at nuclear disarmament, the onset of the Cold War nuclear arms competition, and the development of light water reactors to harness nuclear energy for electric power generation. The authors thoroughly unpack the problem of nuclear proliferation, examining the strategy and incentives for states that have and have not pursued nuclear weapons, and providing an overview of the nuclear arsenals of the current nuclear weapon states. They trace the technical, political and strategic evolution of deterrence, arms control and disarmament policies from the first attempts for an Outer Space Treaty in 1957 through the new START treaty of 2009. At critical junctures in the narrative, the authors explain the relevant nuclear science and technology including nuclear fission and criticality; nuclear materials and enrichment; nuclear detonation and nuclear weapons effects; nuclear weapons stockpile constraints, stewardship and surveillance; nuclear fusion and thermonuclear weapons; technologies for monitoring, verification and proliferation; and nuclear forensics. They conclude with an assessment of contemporary issues ranging from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action reached to halt Iran's nuclear weapons development program, to the threat of nuclear terrorism, the perceived nuclear weapons policies of Russia and China, and the US efforts to provide disincentives for its allies to acquire their own nuclear weapons by maintaining credible security guarantees.

Dans le but d'aider les tudiants, physiciens et ing nieurs nucl aires suceptibles d'avoir besoin d'un cours de G nie Atomique rigoureux et p dagogique, cet ouvrage nous pr sente les connaissances de base n cessaires la compr hension et la mod lisation des ph nom nes thermohydrauliques monophasiques et diphasiques rencontr s lors de la conception ou du fonctionnement des r acteurs nucl aires. Les coulements et transferts de chaleur dans les coulements diphasiques sont en particulier pr sent s en d tail. La plupart des chapitres comportent des exemples d'application des concepts tudi s des probl mes de g nie nucl aire, et des exercices destin s ma triser ces concepts. Ces exemples et exercices ont t le plus souvent adapt s de probl mes pos s lors de contr les des connaissances associ s au cours de Thermohydraulique des r acteurs du G nie Atomique. Chaque exemple d'application comporte une solution d taill e. Les connaissances math matiques requises ne vont gu re au-del de celles enseign es dans les coles d'ing nieurs. Les chapitres sur les caract ristiques thermohydrauliques des r acteurs et sur la conception et le dimensionnement thermique des r acteurs ont t r dig s par Patrick Raymond (CEA). Le chapitre traitant de la thermique de l' l ment combustible a t crit en collaboration avec Claude Renault (CEA) et celui sur le blocage des coulements diphasiques en collaboration avec Michel Giot (Universit Catholique de Louvain). Enfin le chapitre sur la thermohydraulique des r acteurs de propulsion navale a t r dig en collaboration avec Laurent Mahias ( cole des Applications Militaires de l' nergie Atomique).

This book is a comparative study of two energy policies that illustrates how and why technical fixes in energy policy failed in the United States. In the post-WWII era, the U.S. government forcefully and consistently endorsed the development of civilian nuclear power. It adopted policies to establish the competitiveness of civilian nuclear power far beyond what would have occurred under free-market conditions. Even though synthetic fuel was characterized by a similar level of economic potential and technical feasibility, the policy approach toward synthetic fuel was sporadic and indeterminate. The contrast between the unfaltering faith in nuclear power and the indeterminate attitude toward synthetic fuel raises many important questions. The answers to these questions reveal provocative yet compelling insights into the policy-making process. The author argues that these diverging paths of development can be explained by exploring the dominant government ideology of the time or "ideology of the state" as the sociology literature describes it. The forceful support for nuclear power was a result of a government preoccupied with fighting the Cold War. The U.S. national security planners intentionally idealized and deified nuclear power to serve its Cold War psychological strategy. These psychological maneuverings attached important symbolic meaning to nuclear power. This symbolism, in turn, explains the society-wide enthusiasm. The fabricated myth of the Atomic Age became a self-fulfilling prophecy and ushered in a bandwagon market. On the other hand, a confused, indeterminate, and relatively powerless welfare state stood behind synthetic fuel. The different ideologies of the state explain the government's different attitudes toward nuclear and synfuel endeavors. The overarching discovery is a mode of "belief-based decision-making" in long-term energy planning. This discovery goes against the prevalent assumption of rational choice in social sciences. The author argues that rational-choice assumption is inapplicable because of the extreme long-term nature of energy planning. It is not usually possible to predict the sociopolitical and economic conditions in the distant future. Rational decisions require supporting information, which often includes impossible long-term foresights. One cannot rationally choose between one unknown and another unknown. Pivotal decisions in long-term energy planning must inevitably be belief based, and beliefs are subject to political manipulation and distortions by social mechanisms. Understanding these peculiar but pervasive characteristics of energy business bears important lessons for today's decision making about energy technologies, and the stakes, if anything, are even higher than before. Energy policy communities; historians of the Cold War, American history, and technology; and sociologists would find this book an invaluable resource.

Do You Know? T. Boone Pickens is investing $10 billion in the biggest wind farm in the world, in Texas? Why not put that money into the nuclear power industry, which is lobbying for UNLIMITED corporate welfare government subsidies that are claimed to be necessary to build ANY new nuclear plants none of which could be online until 2015 at the earliest? The DNA from genetically modified organisms (GMO s), including viruses and other species normally alien to our bodies, has already entered our vital organs, and the bacteria in our intestines, though this was not supposed to happen as a result of the gene-alteration of our foods? One controlled study found that rats fed GMO potatoes developed smaller brains, testicles and livers, as compared to rats fed the unaltered parent line of the very same potatoes. Beware, half USA non-organic sugar may be GMO by 2008 if not stopped by labeling or angry consumers. Italy wants to dump 20,000 tons of its nuclear waste into the USA, with the help of the EnergySolutions corporation? This could be the first big step in making the USA the world s dumping ground for all the world s nuclear waste. Although most Tennesseans don t know it (yet) five landfills in their state are readied now to accept radioactive waste, much of it not to be monitored as it should be. Such waste can enter our industrial and food chains, concentrating in our bra-clips and zippers, for example, while also possibly causing cancer, abortions, mutations, etc., for thousands and millions of years. No safe technique to contain radioactive waste has yet been scientifically devised. The U.S. is about to start an arms race in space, under the cover of Missile Defense Nuclear weapons and nuclear powered launch vehicles could be included in our violation of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 which the USA primarily authored after the Soviet Union fired Sputnik, the first manmade satellite, into Earthly orbit. 163 nations formally reaffirmed opposition to weaponizing space on November 20, 2000. Weapons are now the USA s #1 industrial export, while defense consumes half of USA federal budget ($3 trillion) during economic crisis.

Section titles are ...(1) Temperature Detectors ...(2) Pressure Detectors ...(3) Level Detectors ...(4) Flow Detectors ...(5) Position Indicators ...(6) Radiation Detectors ...(7) Process Controls.

Le parc lectronucl aire fran ais est l'un des plus importants de la plan te. Ils suscitent, comme tout ce qui concerne le nucl aire, de nombreuses interrogations. Ainsi, les grands enjeux autour de ce parc sont des th mes essentiels pour l'autonomie nerg tique sont la s ret, la disponibilit, la radioprotection et la protection de l'environnement. Fruit d'un retour d'exp rience de plus de 1100 campagnes d'irradiation r alis es sur 4 paliers de tranches depuis 1977, le pr sent ouvrage pr sente la d clinaison industrielle et quotidienne de ces enjeux, dans le domaine de l'exploitation des c urs. Les principes et objectifs de la gestion du combustible sont tout d'abord rappel s et illustr s par un historique l'ensemble des gestions mises en uvre sur le parc des r acteurs; l' laboration des plans de chargement est ensuite d crite, et on aborde les contraintes techniques industrielles ainsi que les enjeux conomiques et de s ret . La surveillance du c ur en exploitation est trait e au travers de la description de l'instrumentation des REP et de son utilisation dans le cadre des essais physiques p riodiques et de red marrage. Le volet s ret pr sente les risques encourus par la premi re barri re (gaine du combustible) et expose les principes des syst mes de surveillance et de protection des c urs. La disponibilit et le service au r seau, exigence sp cifique au parc nucl aire fran ais qui assure 80 % de la production nationale d' lectricit, sont illustr s dans le chapitre consacr au pilotage des c urs, avec le rappel des ph nom nes physiques associ s et la description des diff rents modes de pilotage utilis s. Enfin, l'application de la r glementation est abord e partir de quelques l ments des R gles G n rales d'Exploitation li s au combustible. Cet ouvrage int ressera les tudiants en sciences et techniques nucl aires, mais galement la communaut des ing nieurs et techniciens qui optimisent, exploitent et surveillent les nombreux r acteurs eau pressuris e du parc lectronucl aire fran ais.

Ion time-of-flight spectrometry techniques are investigated for potential application to neutron depth profiling. Time-of-flight techniques are used extensively in a wide range of scientific and technological applications including energy and mass spectroscopy. Ion time-of-flight spectrometry offers highly precise measurement capabilities, particularly for slow particles. Time-of-flight spectrometry involves correlated detection of two signals by a coincidence unit. In ion time-of-flight spectroscopy, the ion generates the primary input signal. The secondary signal can be obtained by a number of ways. In this work, the secondary signal is created by the passage of the primary ion through a thin carbon foil. Two ion time-of-flight spectrometer design paradigms are introduced: the parallel electric and magnetic (PEM) field spectrometer and the cross electric and magnetic (CEM) field spectrometer.

Nuclear energy is the energy that is directly released from the atomic nucleus. The conversion of nuclear mass to energy is consistent with the mass-energy equivalence formula AEE = AEm.c(2), in which AEE = energy release, AEm = mass defect, and c = the speed of light in a vacuum (a physical constant).Nuclear energy is released by three exoenergetic (or exothermic) processes: Radioactive decay, where a neutron or proton in the radioactive nucleus decays spontaneously by emitting either particles, electromagnetic radiation (gamma rays), neutrinos (or all of them) Fusion, two atomic nuclei fuse together to form a heavier nucleus Fission, the breaking of an heavy nucleus into two (more rarely three) lighter nuclei This book presents the latest research in the field from around the globe.

This book provides important research in materials relevant to nuclear fission and fusion reactors and high power accelerator technologies, and in closely related aspects of materials science and engineering.

The perfect storm is approaching for energy in North America.
World peak oil production has arrived. North American peak natural gas production is knocking on the door. The electrical generation and transmission system is suffering from years of under-investment in the wake of deregulation, corporate mergers, market gaming and cost cutting to boost short-term share values. Demand continues to rise. Analysts forecast dramatic increases in energy prices for the next decade and more.
"The Emperor's New Hydrogen Economy" shows in detail why the much-heralded Hydrogen Economy won't work as advertised, and even if it could, it won't be ready in time to help most of us.
You can improve your situation as the North American energy crunch unfolds. You can keep your quality of life, and not revert to the Dark Ages as oil supplies diminish. Understand why you need your own personal energy plan, so you can maintain your lifestyle, improve the environment and save money doing it. Learn how from an author who shares his personal experiences and sees light at the end of the path ahead, not blackouts.

The increasing global concerns about carbon emission and secure energy generation spurred a renewed interest in nuclear energy, alongside with development of advanced nuclear reactor designs and fuel cycles. This book proposes several solutions to improve the cycle of a Light Water Reactor (LWR). It focuses in particular on development of fuel cycles and operational strategies for the International Reactor Innovative and Secure (IRIS), an advanced LWR with integral design developed by an international consortium led by Westinghouse. The solutions proposed combine proven LWR technology with innovative engineering, therefore enabling IRIS, and the larger class of advanced LWRs, to meet aggressive licensing schedule without forgoing key economic and safety requirements for the fuel cycle of an advanced plant. Since the study has been performed through a joint collaboration with the nuclear industry, focus is maintained not only on the quality and innovation of the solutions proposed but also on their effective applicability in the near future. For these reasons, this book will appeal both the researcher and the engineer interested in the future of the nuclear energy.